Orange County, NY - IN PHOTOS: Thousands Gather For Bonfire In Kiryas Joel

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba'Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar

Orange County, NY - Thousands turned out Wednesday night in the Satmar Chasidic village of Kiryas Joel to mark the Jewish holiday of Lag Baomer with the annual bonfire.

Advertisement:

Traditionally, a large platform is prepared, wood is piled in the center and large amounts of oil are poured on the wood.

Similar bonfires are held in many Jewish communities, but Kiryas Joel’s is by far the largest such celebration in the United States. This year, a turnout of nearly 20,000 people took part in the event.

The origins of this celebration lie in the village of Meron in the Holy Land, burial site of the Talmudic sage Rabbi Simeon bar Yochai.

Lag Baomer marks the anniversary of his death approximately 1900 years ago. It is a day when Jews traditionally express happiness and thanks to G-d for inspiring Rabbi Simeon to write portions of the Talmud, the Zohar and other important Jewish texts.

Photos credit: Yossi Goldnerger & Y. Sondik.

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer, which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: REUTERS)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer, which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: REUTERS)

Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum, Grand Rebbe of the Satmar Hasidim, cuts a child’s hair as part of the celebration of the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer, which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: REUTERS)

Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum, Grand Rebbe of the Satmar Hasidim, attends a celebration of the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer, which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: REUTERS)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim crowd bleachers near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer, which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: REUTERS)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim crowd bleachers near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer, which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: REUTERS)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: REUTERS)

Orthodox Jewish children of the Satmar Hasidim are illuminated by a bonfire as they take part in a celebration of the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: REUTERS)

Orthodox Jewish children of the Satmar Hasidim are illuminated by a bonfire as they take part in a celebration of the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: REUTERS)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer, which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: REUTERS)

Grand Rabbi Aron Teitelbaum of the Satmar Hasidim lights a bonfire during a celebration of the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer, which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: REUTERS)

Young Orthodox Jewish boys of the Satmar Hasidim stand on milk crates near a bonfire during a celebration of the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: REUTERS)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim dance near a bonfire as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer which marks the anniversary of the death of Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai approximately 1,900 years ago, in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York, U.S., May 25, 2016. (Credit: /VINnews.com)

7

May 26, 2016 at 05:10 PMAnonymous Says:

“
Wow wow... what a huge oilem.... what a kiddush hashem, what a revenge for hitler ym"s, im sure the holy satmar rabba z"l are proud of his chasidim. ”

Kidush Hashem? Huh? This new lag bomer phase has nothing to do with judiasm. Aside from the kever rashbi nobody did this mishigas in Europe. The holy stamar reba zechus ygan alhuim is probably quite unhappy on this bitul zman. R yolish ZT"L never did this mishigas. Its a shame that our sects in judiasm have to provide entertainment to thier constituants. Judiasm became about camp actvities. I have no probelm if you make a fire and sing kumbaya as people need to have fun at times.. But please don't make this a jewish issue

For more on this I advise you to you tube R Aron Titelbaum's own drasha about 15 years ago making fun of Lag Bomer fires. I guess times change when its good for the business. Even skver caved in and had a fire!

8

May 26, 2016 at 10:48 PMAnonymous Says:

#6 the floodlights in the KJ Beis Hamedrash parking lot were actually very bright. The photographer was among the women so I guess they couldn't get a good shot. Or the deal was not to photograph them.